College of Science & Engineering

Department of Chemistry

Chemistry/Biochemistry - Phase II Application

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SUBMIT COMPLETED APPLICATION BY:

  • 11:55 PM ON March 31st 

    • Please be advised the due date will still remain as March 31st. Although the first day of the quarter has changed from March 31st to April 6th, our due date for all Phase II application remains as March 31st @ 11:55 PM. This allows the review committee to process your applications and deliver Phase II results to applicants prior to Fall Registration. If you have any questions or concerns about this process, please do not hesitate to reach out to chemistry@wwu.edu. Thank you for your understanding, stay safe, and good luck!

  • Late applications will not be considered until the following year.

    • If you have missed the deadline due to the movement of the first day of Spring Quarter classes, please reach out to chemistry@wwu.edu. 

  • TRANSFER STUDENTS:  YOU MUST BE ADMITTED TO WESTERN TO APPLY TO PHASE II OF THE PROGRAM.

*Seats for Phase II Majors in the BS-Chemistry and BS-Biochemistry program are lab space limited to 32 seats (each) per year.*

*Seats for the Phase II Majors in the BA-Chemistry program are space limited to remaining seats (usually 10-16 students) in CHEM 461-Physical Chemistry I.*

Please complete the form below to apply for Phase II of your major; after carefully reviewing the below information - which you will attest you have read and understand.

  1. Admission to the BA/BS-Chemistry and BS-Biochemistry programs is a two-phase process.  
    • Students initially declare as a pre-major (Phase I) and admission to full-major status (Phase II) is determined by academic performance (GPA) as a pre-major (in Phase I) and other factors.
  2. Admission to programs are space limited.  
    • Neither completion of the prerequisites nor attainment of any specific GPA guarantees admission.
  3. In order to apply for full-major (Phase II) status, students must have successfully (with a C- or better) completed ALL pre-major (Phase I) courses outlined below.
    • Students who will complete the coursework prior to the beginning of Phase II courses (the following fall), should still apply with the understanding that they may be asked to re-apply after course completion or be re-evaluated after course completion.
  4. Advanced Placement (AP) scores are converted to letter grades as follows:  5=A, 4=B, 3=C
  5. Students who do not meet the GPA requirement may repeat one of the Phase I (Pre-Major) courses for the purpose of increasing their GPA and to become eligible for Phase II. 
    • If a student repeats a course, the new grade replaces the existing grade.  
      • The second instance of the course will be used, regardless of which instance of the course has a higher grade.
    • In order to be eligible for Phase II consideration, all Phase I courses must have passing grades.  
      • Please be aware, a passing grade is “D-,“ while the minimum for major (and prerequisite) satisfaction is “C-.”
  6. If you are not initially admitted to Phase II of your desired program, you will also be assessed for admission to the other programs.
    • All applicants will be cross-evaluated for eligibility in other programs, should they not be admitted to their desired program.
    • Students seeking BS program waitlist status may, later, be admitted should space become available.
      • Students on BS program waitlists should pursue the appropriate coursework (under advisement) to graduate in a timely fashion, should they later be admitted to a BS program.
        • For example:  Students waitlisted for the BS-Chemistry program should still complete the additional math course (MATH 204) and be sure they have room in their study plan for 9 credits of advanced electives (from approved list). 
  7. Submit completed online application via this webform by the first day of courses of the Spring quarter 2 years prior to anticipated graduation date.
    • ​​​Late applications will not be considered until the following year.
    • Phase II admission decisions will be announced in May prior to Fall quarter registration.
      • ​All accepted applicants must meet with the Chemistry Program Coordinator to complete the Official Change of Major Form and confirm their plan of study.
      • Your major status will not reflect Phase II until the form is completed.
        • Failure to have your records updated will cause registration restriction issues.  Meaning, you will be restricted form registering for Phase II courses.
    • To review the writing prompts at the end of the Phase II application, see the following document: 
  8. You are responsible for providing accurate information.  
    • If you need to review your grades, you may view your unofficial transcript and Transfer Equivalency Report by logging in to Web4U.
    • If your responses are found to be dishonest, you will be disqualified.  

 

Please see the Chemistry portion of the Catalog for more information.

  • BS-Chemistry degree requires a minimum Phase I GPA of 3.0 for priority  Phase II review.
    • Maintaining a 3.0 (or 2.5 for BA-Chemistry) GPA in Phase I coursework is not a guarantee of Phase II approval.
    • Phase II approval is not a guarantee of enrollment in any given course.
      • Phase I coursework for BS-Chemistry is as follows:
        • CHEM 121-123/161-163 (or CHEM 125/175, 126/176 & 225 - General Chemistry, Honors)
        • CHEM 351 & 352
        • MATH 124 & 125 (or MATH 134 & 135 - Calculus, Honors ~or~ MATH 138 - Accelerated Calculus)
        • PHYS 161
          • ​​Students must have completed PHYS 161 in winter quarter of the year they apply to Phase II in order to be prepared for CHEM 461 the following fall.
  • BS-Biochemistry degree requires a minimum Phase I GPA of 3.0 for priority  Phase II review.
    • Maintaining a 3.0 GPA in Phase I coursework is not a guarantee of admission to Phase II courses within any specific quarter or timeframe.
      • Phase I coursework for BS-Biochemistry is as follows:
        • CHEM 121-123/161-163 (or CHEM 125/175, 126/176 & 225 - General Chemistry, Honors)
        • CHEM 351 & 352
        • BIOL 205
  • BA-Chemistry degree requires a minimum Phase I GPA of 2.5 for priority  Phase II review.
    • Maintaining a 2.5 GPA in Phase I coursework is not a guarantee of Phase II approval.
    • Phase II approval is not a guarantee of enrollment in any given course.
      • Phase I coursework for BA-Chemistry is as follows:
        • CHEM 121-123/161-163 (or CHEM 125/175, 126/176 & 225 - General Chemistry, Honors)
        • CHEM 351 & 352
        • MATH 124 & 125 (or MATH 134 & 135, or MATH 138) 
        • PHYS 161
        • ​Students must have completed PHYS 161 in winter quarter of the year they apply to Phase II in order to be prepared for CHEM 461 the following fall.​​​